Acetylene-gas generator.



Patented Oct. 29; l90l.

A. WHITE & F. HARBAUGH.

ACETYLENE GAS GENEBATUR.

(Application filed Feb. 11, 1901'.)

2 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.

THE Norms PETERS c0. PHOTO-Limo" WIASMING'KIINUP. c4

No. 685,545.. I a Patented Oct. 29, l90l.

' A. WHITE 8:. F. HARBAUGH.

AGETYLENE- GAS GENERATOR,

(Application filed Feb. 11, 1901.)

(No Model.) 2 Sheets$heet 2.

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M/ay, (ixdzflkfifiaife [fizz/5 dyr azg V UNITED STATES PATENT OFFI E.

ALEXANDER WHITE AND FRANK HARBAUGH, OF WATERLOO, IOWA,

ASSIGNORS TO EPWORTH GAS LIGHT & HEATING 00., OF \VATERLOO, IOWA, ACORPORATION OF IOWA.

ACET-YLENE-GAS GEN ERATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 685,545, dated October29, 1901. Application filed February 11, 190 1- I Serial No. 46,846. (Nomodel.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern.-

Beit known that we, ALEXANDER WHITE and FRANK HARBAUGH, citizens oftheUnited States, residing at Waterloo, in the county of Blackhawk andStateof Iowa, have invented new and useful Improvements'in Acetylene-Gas Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to acetylene-gas apparatus; and it includescertain peculiar features hereinafter more particularly described andclaimed.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is acentral vertical section of an acetylene-gas apparatus. Fig. 2 is atransverse section of the carbid-containing hopper and immediate parts.Fig. 3 is a detail perspective View of a swinging an for controlling thefeed of the carbid. a detail View of the duplex arm and actuatortherefor. Fig. ,5 shows a controllingdevice for several of the parts..Fig. 6 shows a different way of mounting the pan. Fig. 7 is a detailview of the three-way cock and adjacent parts.

Like characters refer to like parts in all the figures of the drawings.

The apparatus involves as a partthereof a generator in which the calciumcarbid and water are brought into contact to form a gas which isconducted from the generator to a gas-holder, and means of a peculiarand novel character are furnished for supplying the car bid in accuratequantities automatically and in accordance with the amount of gasdesired. The generator is denoted by A, and it may be of any suitablesize and made from the usual materials generally employed for this classof work.

The generator A is provided at its upper end with a carbid-containinghopper 6, ta-

pered below its middle to the'discharge orifice or opening, the carbidpassing through this opening and falling on to the pan or cradle 7. Thepan is supported for oscillation or swinging movement below the hopper,it being adapted when moved rearward to spill off a portion of thecarbid sustained thereon into the water in the generator A, and it issomeig. 4 is all conditions.

A what concaved or dished, it having side walls inclined upwardly andoutwardly and fastoned to the transverse rock-shaft 8, extending throughthe generator and hopper-walls, respectively, it being sustained bysuitable bearings thereon. This shaft is automatically actuated atproper times to swing the pan back to cause the feed of'the carbid.

The pan or cradle 7 is supported some dis-' tance below the hopper, andwhen it is in'its normal position, as shown in Fig.1, its outer edgesare located beyond the lower portion of the hopper, so that the piecesof carbid on the pan will not fall therefrom, it beingevident that abanked-up mass of carbid is sustained on the pan entirely free of thehopper and at opposite sides of its discharge-opening. When the pan orcradle, however, is rocked backward a short distance, the carbid fallsor is pushed therefrom and gravitates into the water in the generator,and thereafter the pan resumes its initial position before it reaches apoint where it would open a free passage from the hopper. It will beunderstood that when the pan is given its primary operation only so muchcarbid drops off as was located at the delivery edge thereof, and nomore can to swing the pan to its initial position. When the pan reachessuch initial position, a sup ply of carbid passes from the hopper totake the place of that which has just been furnished the generator.'

It will be observed that the discharge edge of the pan or cradle 7 hasa'notch or opening, as 9, shown as V-shaped, by which construction thequantity of carbid supplied to the generator can be accurately regulatedunder When only a few burners are used, the bell of the gas-holder goesdown very slowly, and hence the pan is moved correspondingly, and whenit tilts we find that just the requisite quantity falls off to maintainthe lights, and when the bell rises the pan is caused to resume itsprimary position to control the supply.

The generated gas from the tank A passes through the pipe 10 into thegas-holder, having the usual vertically-movable bell 12. This gas-holderis of a known kind, and hence a detailed description of the same isunnecessary.

The pipe 10 has adjacent the gas-holder a three-way cook 13 of somesuitable kind, the stem of which is connected to the upright arms 14: ofa device adapted to prevent certain operations except at the correcttimes, and said device will be hereinafter more particularly described.

The pipe 10 has branches, as 50 and 51, controlled by the three-wayvalve 13, the branch 50 passing into the gasometer to normally supplythe same with gas from the generator, and when the generator is to becharged said valve will be turned to shut 0d connection of pipe 10 tothe gas-holder and open connection to the escape-pipe 51 for any gascoming over from the generator, the gas from the escape-pipe enteringthe under side of the gasometer and flowing from thence to atmospherethrough the vent 52.

As the bell 12 descends it will through immediate mechanism, now to bedescribed, swing the pan 7 backward to spill the carbid on said pan togenerate gas, which flows into the gas-holder and causes the bell torise and cause the return of the pan to its normal position.

The rock-shaft 8 where it extends beyond the generator-wall carries aduplex arm consisting of two members, one loose on the shaft and theother fixed thereto, but which during the normal operation of theapparatus are rigidly connected together, so as to form, in effect, acontinuous arm in a single plane.

The fixed arm is denoted by 15 and the loose one by 16, the latterhaving a pin 17, connected thereto by a cord or chain, as 18, the pinbeing adapted to pass through holes in the respective arms, so as torigidly unite them. When the two arms are connected by the pin, the arm16 will be engaged by a device operable from the bell 12, so as to swingthe pan 7 and supply the carbid to the generator in the mannerdescribed.

With the apparatus empty and with the arms 15 and 16 coupled the pan orcradle 7 will be swung back, and it is of course necessary that this panshould be in a position to prevent the entrance of carbid into thegenerator when the hopper 6 is to be charged. To accomplish this, thepin 17 will be withdrawn, thereby uncoupling the arms, so thatthe arm15, which is fixed to the shaft 8 and which is in the nature of ahandle, can be grasped and drawn down as far as it will go to bring thepan to the position shown in Fig. 1, and by the arm or handle 15 the panmay be actuated to permit the carbid to fall into the generator, therebyforming gas, which flows to the gas-holder, and as the bell rises itwill at a proper point through intermediate means operate the arm 16 tobring it into line with the arm 15, at which time the pin 17 can beinserted in the holes in said arms.

The bell 12 is provided near its upper side with ears, as 19, havingopenings to receive the vertical guide-rods 20 on the fixed part of thegas-holder, by which the bell is prevented from turning. lhe bell isprovided with a depending vertical actuating-bar 21, having a notch, as22, to receive the antifriction roller or projection 23 at the outerbifurcated end of the arm 16 at a proper time so that the arm 16 andshaft 8 may be operated to swing the pan 7 backward.

When the bell 12 rises to a point where the pan is in its initialposition, the roller 23 will pass out of the notch or recess 22, andwhen said bell descends as the gas is consumed the roller 23 will entersaid notch, and on a slight further descent the arm 16 will be rockedbythe bar 21 to drop carbid into the water in the generator, generatinggas and causing the bell to rise and eitect the return of the pan 7 toits normal position.

The gas from the holder B passes through the pipe 24 into a combinedregulator and filter, as 0, including an outer cylinder 25, separated bya short distance from a cylinder 26, the space between the two beingadapted to contain water and the part 0 being substantially like thegas-holder B, except that it is smaller, and the water serves to preventthe escape of gas. The bell 28 is interposed between the two cylindersand serves a pcculiar function. i

The discharge end of the pipe 21, which supplies gas to the tank 0, islocated some distance above the bottom of said tank, and the gas istaken from the latter through the pipe 28'.

The pipe 24: passes through the center of the tank 0 and has just belowthe same an enlarged portion or chamber 29,- in which a conical valve,as 30, is located, the valve being conveniently formed of rubber andserving to control the admission of gas to said tank 0. The stem of thevalve passes upward through that part of the pipe 24 that is within thetank 0 and is tapped into or otherwise connected to a weight, as 31,which may be in the form of a casting secured to the top of the bell 27.During the normal pressure of the gas the b01127 will be down,therebymaintaining the valve 30 open. When an excessive pressure takes place,the bell rises and closesor nearly closes the valve and shuts, for thetime being, the pressure off and holds it in the gas-pipes atpractically the same pressure all the time.

In order to remove fine particles from the gas before it reaches theburners, we will fill the space inside the bell 27 with animal woolpacked comparatively tight, the wool being saturated or dampened withanimal oil or grease, the oily surface of the wool as the gas passestherethrough catching any fine particles that may be therein, so thatthe gas is discharged from the tank 0 entirely free from objectionablematter.

We locate in the generator an agitator of:

IIO

peculiar form, now to be described. A vertical spindle or shaft extendsthrough the bottom of the generator and has the base-piece 36 of anagitating-frame secured through the diagonally-disposed arms 37, beingfastened to the base -piece near its opposite ends.

These arms cross each other and are connected together where they cross,their upper ends extending to and a slight distance above thewater-level. The lower end of the shaft 35 is provided with ahand-crank, as 38, by whichthe agitator may be operated.

When the carbid falls into the water, there is a certain amount ofmatter that forms in lumps on the surface thereof and there collects,and if left undisturbed it may descend into the water when leastexpected and form somuch gas as to force out the water seal and permitthe gas to escape, or possibly other harm might result. By ourimprovement, however,these disadvantages are not present, for byrotating the .agitator the arms thereof will crush these lumps or breakup the coating and assure the proper descent of the carbid.

The generator has a valved spout 39, by which water may be suppliedthereto,- and a draw-off pipe 40, having a gate 41, provided with thefinger-piece 42, by which it can be raised.

The carbid-hopper 6 has a cap 42, which can be removed to supply saidhopper with carbid.

WVe provide preventive means for blocking certain operations untilcertain others have taken place. Thus the three-way valve 13 cannot beopened until thearm or handle 15 has been swung down.

The arm 14, to which reference has hereinbefore been made'and which isrigidly secured to the three-way valve 13, has a transverse arm 43projecting therefrom and which is located over and in contact with thefinger-piece 42 of the gate 41, thereby to lock said gate. The arm 43serves to actuate the three-way valve, and when it is swung out by handthe gate 41 will be released and may, if necessary, be opened.

The upper end of the arm 14 has an exten sion 43, to which thetransverse arm 44 is connected, the lower end of the arm 44 extendingback of the arm or handle 15 when the apparatus is empty and the upperpart thereof overhanging the cap 42. Therefore the valve 13 cannot beopened by the arm 43 until the arm 15 is swung down. As soon as said armis actuated the arm 44 will be released, so as to swing thelocking-frame outward to permit the gate 41 being opened and the cap42-removed for charging.

The pan is shown in Fig. 6 pivoted from the hopper, it having on itsunder side the link 45, jointed thereto and similarly connected to thearm 46 on the rock-shaft 8, it-

being evident that in this construction the pan is not directlyconnected to the rockshaft; but otherwise the construction and mode ofoperation are the same.

The arm 43 is shown as occupying its normal position in Fig. 7, atwhichtime the gas generated passes from the pipe 10 into the branch 50, whileby swinging said arm outward to charge the generator the gas will bediverted into the branch 51 to be disposed of as before described.

The invention is not limited to the construction hereinbefore set forth,as it may be materially modified within the scope of the appendedclaims.

Having described the invention, we claim 1. In an apparatus forgenerating acetylene gas, a generator, at carbid-hopper, a swingingfeed-controlling pan for the hopper, a shaft connected with the pan, twoarms one loose on the shaft and the other fixed thereto, means forrigidly coupling the arms, a gas-holder having a bell, and meansconnected with the gas-holder for operating said loose arm. 7

2. In an apparatus for generating acetylene gas, a generator, acarbid-hopper, a swinging feed-controlling pan for the hopper, a shaftconnected with the pan, two arms one loose on the shaft and the otherfixed thereto, a pin for rigidly uniting the arms, a gas-holder having abell, a rod connected to the bell having a notch, and a projection onsaid loose arm adapted to enter said notch.

3.- In an apparatus for generating acetylene gas, a generator, acarbid-hopper, a swinging feed-controlling pan for the hopper, a shaftconnected with the pan, two arms one loose on and theother fixed to saidshaft, means for rigidly coupling said arms, a gas-holder having a bell,means operative with the bell for operating said loose arm, a pipeconnecting the generator and gasholder having a valve, and means foractuating said valve controlled bysaid fixed arm.

4. In an apparatusfor generating acetylene gas, a generator having ahopper, a controlling-pan for the hopper, an arm for actuating the pan,a cap for the hopper, a dischargegate for said generator, a gas-holderhaving a bell, connections between the bell and the arm for operatingthe latter, a pipe connecting the generator and gas-holder having avalve, an arm operating the valve, having means connected thereto forcontrolling the cap and discharge-gate and controlled in turn by the armthat actuates said pan.

5. In an apparatus for generating acetylene gas, a generator and anagitator in said generator consisting of a horizontal base-piece and twocrossed arms secured at their lower ends to the opposite extremities ofthe basepiece, the upper ends of the arms extending above the normalsurface of the water in said generator and said base-piece having adepending spindle extending through the bottom of the generator providedwith means for rotating the same. 7

6. In an apparatus for generating acetylene gas, a carbid hopper, afeed-controlling device, a shaft connected with the latter, two armscarried by said shaft one loose and the IIO other fixed, a gas-holderhavinga bell, means operative with the latter for engaging the loosearm, and means for rigidly coupling said arms.

'7. In an apparatus for generating acetylene gas, a generator having ahopper, a controlling-pan for the hopper, a shaft connected with saidpan, two arms carried by said shaft one fixed and the other loose, meansfor rigidly coupling said arms, a gas-holder having a bell, meansoperative with the bell for actuating said loose arm, a pipe connectingthe nesses.

generator and gas-holder having a valve, an arm connected to said valve,and means normally held from operation by said fixed arm and connectedwith said last-mentioned arm.

In testimony whereof We have hereunto set our hands in presence of twosubscribing wit- ALEXANDER WHITE. FRANK HARBAUGI'I. Vitnessesf GEO.WARDLE,

J OHN KATZENMEYER.

